By Claude & Parth on 2026-03-28, City: Toronto, View Transcript
Toronto City Council held a two-day meeting addressing critical issues including traffic safety, development pressures, education governance, and food affordability. The meeting saw heated debates over provincial interference in school board governance, with council unanimously supporting the preservation of elected trustees. Council also approved controversial development applications despite local opposition, advanced a pilot program for municipal grocery stores to address rising food costs, and passed measures to improve TTC safety amid declining rider confidence. The session concluded with the passage of 83 bills and multiple zoning amendments.
Council unanimously passed a motion opposing the provincial government's removal of elected school board trustees from future ballots. The issue has left 400,000 Toronto students without local democratic representation, as trustees in several boards have been placed under provincial supervision and locked out of their email and computers without warning. Councillor Methol described the impact: "They found out like that day that they couldn't log onto their own laptop, that they couldn't access their email, that they could not even respond to the emails that had been waiting for them on their computer while parents were waiting to get some acknowledgement or response." Multiple councillors emphasized that trustees, who earn only $20,000 annually while working full-time hours, serve as essential advocates for parents navigating issues with special education, school closures, and enrollment changes. Councillor Carville warned: "Are MPPs ready to deal with parents that have seen the failings of this public education system? I think not."
Council approved a controversial pilot program to establish four city-run grocery stores aimed at reducing food costs for residents. Mayor Chow strongly supported the initiative, sharing an anecdote about a mother who couldn't afford $60 in weekly snacks for her children. The proposal sparked sharp debate, with Councillor Holiday calling it "a terrible idea and a poor use of resources," arguing that government cannot run grocery stores more efficiently than the private sector. Supporters, including Councillor Peruta, emphasized that the city serves approximately 500,000 people through various food programs and could leverage bulk purchasing power. The motion passed 21-3, with amendments directing staff to examine alternative models, align with existing food purchasing programs, and learn from other cities with public grocery stores.
Council addressed declining safety perceptions on the TTC, with only 51% of riders reporting satisfaction with personal safety in February, down from 61% in January. Councillor Bradford highlighted that assault incidents have increased 216% over the past decade, from 263 in 2015 to 831 in 2025. Of 70 subway stations, only 12 have uniform police officers, with just 8 officers covering 12 stations. Council passed a motion calling for a comprehensive safety approach, including development of a plan for platform edge doors—a measure first discussed in 1990. Staff confirmed platform edge doors would "go a long way to reducing the unauthorized people at track level and certainly would be very beneficial towards preventing suicide attempts." A study on platform edge doors is under final review with results expected "within the next couple of months," though the doors are not included in current funding for Bloor-Yonge capacity improvements.
Council grappled with massive development proposals lacking adequate infrastructure planning. Councillor Cole described the Midtown area (Yonge-Eglinton/Marley) as facing 22 condo applications bringing 60,000 new residents with no community facilities: "We don't have a place to even pee on Marley Avenue. We've got no community facilities at all." The North York Center secondary plan proposes adding 100,000 people over 25-30 years, requiring eight new elementary schools. Councillor Chang warned about a current childcare gap of 100-400 spots before any new residents arrive, and noted that Section 37 community benefit agreements are failing as developers back out: "My developers are saying I'm not going to build that child care because the math doesn't work anymore." In a contentious vote, council approved staff recommendations for a Queen Street East development over the local councillor's objections, with Councillor Perks warning that rejecting staff recommendations would lead to an Ontario Land Tribunal appeal the city would lose.
Following a serious collision that left a 15-year-old pedestrian hospitalized, Councillor Nietta introduced an emergency amendment for traffic safety enhancements on Humber Boulevard North between Western Road and Alliance Avenue. The intersection near March Bishop Romero School features a dangerous pedestrian walkway where a fence over a ravine blocks motorists' view of pedestrians crossing—the only crossing point for students to reach the bus. The amendment calls for speed management measures including speed cushions, geometric safety improvements, and improvements to the pedestrian crossover, with a report back to Tobocco York Community Council. The amendment was carried.
Passed: - Emergency traffic safety enhancements on Humber Boulevard North (Councillor Nietta) - $200,000 allocation from Section 37 funds for sidewalk installation on Sumac Street (Councillor Moyes) - North York Center Secondary Plan with infrastructure strategy (Item PH28.6) - Willowdale Secondary Plan with community investment provisions (Councillor Chang) - School board trustee preservation motion (MM39.10) - passed unanimously - Municipal grocery store pilot program (MM39.27) - passed 21-3 with amendments - TTC safety comprehensive approach including platform edge doors study (MM39.50) - parts 3 and 4 passed 19-4, balance passed 23-0 - Cultural districts expansion adding Little Iran and Banglatown (Item 3960) - passed 21-1 - Three units of affordable housing approval (Item TE29.12) - Specialized housing types review (MM3986) - passed 24-1 - Bills 193-215 and 217-275 passed as bylaws
Rejected: - Councillor Bradford's conditions for Queen Street East development (TE29.12 and TE29.3) - defeated 5-19
Deferred: - Item EY29.1: 250 Winalt Drive and 4620 Eglinton Avenue West (stood down) - Item MM39.83: Cultural Districts Program (initially held by Councillor Chang, later released with amendments)
Present: Mayor Chow, Deputy Mayor Malik, Councillors Nietta, Moyes, Matlo, Chang, Cole, Bradford, Perks, Holiday, Sachs, Bravo, Mley, Fletcher, Prudza (Peruta), Thompson, Carol, Chernosllin, Carville
Note: Full attendance list may not be complete based on transcript excerpts provided